Electric-circuit switch.



F, W. HARRIS. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 11 1 3.10,1908.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FORD W. HARRIS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EASTPITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 191.0.

Application filed April 10, 1908. Serial No. 426,350.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FORD W. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Circuit Switches, of which the following is a specification.

4 My invention relates to switching devices for electric circuits, andit has speclal reference toswitches that are adapted to auto-:inatically interrupt relatively high-voltage mes.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the class aboveindicated that shall be simple and inexpensive in construction andadapted to automatically open the circuit under predetermined conditionsand also be capable of satisfactory operation in-the open air.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a partially sectionalelevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the device illustrated comprises a cross-armor bracket 1 supported by a pole 2, bell-shaped terminal members 3 and4, horn-shaped arcing members 5 and 6 and a detachable bridging member 7having a fusible element 8. The members 3 and 4 are secured to the endsof the cross-arm 1 and each of them is insulated therefrom by apetticoat insulator 9. The horn members 5 and 6 are respectivelysupported by projections 10 and 11 on the outer surfaces of the members3 and 4 and extend upwardly and outwardly, so that when the circuit isinterrupted, any are produced by the high voltage is broken at the upperextremities of the horns.

The bridging member 7 comprises an insulating tube 12 having a cap 13 ofconducting material at one end which is provided with a bifurcated arm15 having a pin 16 near its outer end to engage a hook or open link 17which is pivotally suspended from the interior of the member 3 toconstitute a link hinge.

The member 4 is provided with a combined catch and contact finger 18 tobe normally engaged b an arm 19 projecting from a collar 20 whic isadjustably mounted on the tube 12 and may be secured to it at any pointby a set-screw 21, the arrangement of parts being such that When the pin16 and the free end of the arm 19 respectively engage the hook or link17 and the catch 18, the tube 12 is thereby detachably supported and themembers 3 and 4 are electrically connected together by the parts 13, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 and the fusible wire or strip 8. The fusiblemember 8 extends through the tube 12 and one end is bent backward uponitself along the outer surface of the end 14, the ends beingrespectively fastened to the cap 13 and the collar 20.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the partsoccupy the positions shown in the drawing, a circuit is completed frommember 3 through the hook or link 17, pin 16, projection 15, fuse member8, collar 20, arm 19 and contact finger 18 to the member 4. If thecurrent traversing the circuit exceeds a predetermined amount, the fusewill be ruptured and any are which may be formed between the terminalmembers will be broken at the extremities of the horn projections 5 and6, in accordance with well established principles. As soon as an arc isformed in the tube 12 the hot gases will be blownout at its open end andthe re-action will force the tube toward the left and detach the arm 19from the catch 18. The tube 12 and its attached terminal members willthen swing downwardly upon the hinge formed by the parts 16 and 17,thereby effecting a mechanical interruption of the circuit. The switchmay be opened and closed by a hooked stick in the hands of an attendantand the bridging contact member may be completely detached forreplacement or other repairs by unhooking the arm 15 from the hook orlink 17 I claim as my invention:

1. A switch comprising a pair of stationary terminal members, and asubstantially horizontal bridging member having a fusible element, andmeans for detachably suspending said bridging member from said terminalmembers, one ofsaid means being a link hinge.

2. A switch comprising a pair of stationary terminal members, insulatingsupports therefor, and a substantially horizontal and longitudinallymovable bridging member comprising an insulating tube, conductingmembers secured to the tube and detachably connected to and suspendedfrom the stationary terminal members, and a fusible strip or wireextending through the insulating tube and connecting the conductingmembers together. 7

3. A switch comprising a pair of stationary bell-shaped terminal membershaving upwardly projecting horn-shaped arcing projections, a supportingbracket for the stationary members, insulators interposed between thearms of the bracket and said members, and a substantially horizontal andlongitudinally movable bridging member comprising an insulating tube, aconducting cap at one end having a detachable hinge connection to one ofthe stationary terminal members, a conducting sleeve adjustably mountedon the tube near its opposite end, a fusible strip or wire extendingthrough the tube and connecting the conducting sleeve with theconducting cap.

4. A switch comprising a pair of station ary terminal members,insulating supports therefor, and a substantially horizontal bridgingmember comprising an insulating tube, conducting members secured to thetube and detachably suspended from the stationary terminal members and afusible strip or wire extending through the insulating tube andconnecting the conducting members together, said bridging member beingdetached from one of its supports by the rupture of the fusible strip orwire.

5. A switch comprising a pair of stationary terminal members, insulatingsupports therefor, and a bridging member comprising an insulating tubeclosed at one end, conducting members secured to the tube near its endsand loosely suspended from said terminal members, and a fusible strip orwire extending through the tube and connecting the conducting memberstogether, the are formed by rupturing the fusible wire or strip servingto give the bridging member suflicient end thrust to release it from oneof the terminal members.

6. A switch comprising a pair of bellshaped stationary terminal membershaving horn-shaped arcing projections, a supporting bracket for thestationary members, insulators interposed between the arms of thebracket and said members, and a movable bridging member hinge-supportedby one of the stationary members and detachably connected to the otherand comprising an insulating tube, a conducting cap at one end, aconducting sleeve adjustably mounted on the tube near its opposite end,and a fusible strip or wire extending through the tube and connectingthe conducting sleeve to the conducting cap, the end thrust produced bya rupture of the fusible member serving to automatically unhook thebridging member from one of the stationary terminal members and permitit to swing downward upon its hinge.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st dayof March, 1908.

FORD W. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

F RED W. CLOUD, BIRNEY HINES.

